Linda Kay Drive-In

This address will track right to it on Google Earth: 11900 C F Hawn Freeway, Dallas, TX 75253

Frank Gillespie launched the Linda Kay in Dallas' incorporated town of Kleberg near Rylie on June 29, 1956 with “The Last Hunt” and “Red Sundown.” (The drive-in would later be listed as being in Rylie, TX followed by Dallas in ads.) The Linda Kay was another drive-in on the Kaufman Pike (Highway 175). With the main drive-in spurt in Dallas being 1948-1951, the Linda Kay had the advantage of opening as a CinemaScope enabled screen at the outset. A nasty incident in 1957 reportedly led to 75 cars with wrecked tires when an activist spiked the drive-in because Gilespie refused to hire a union projectionist. The perpetrators were found guilty but got a reduced sentence when the actual tire damage was said to have been just $75.

Charles Weisenburg bought the theater adding it to his circuit. In 1978, Weisenburg auctioned off his Kaufman Pike, Bruton Road, Lewisville 121 Twin and Linda Kay drive-ins as he was retiring from his circuit that had 38 theaters at its apex. The Linda Kay under new ownership would turn to porn and survive into the home video era. It earned its stripes as an adult theater by being raided by the police on February 19, 1982 with the film, “The Starlets” seized and 40 customers sent home. (Given that one could see the screen from the road – and after showing over a hundred adult films – this one must’ve had a particular scene that just outraged someone nearby.) As the adult film industry was decimated by home video in the mid-1980s, the Linda Kay would be denied a happy ending though surviving a very impressive 30 years. She outlasted many other area drive-ins that had far more publicity but not the longevity. The L-K was demolished at a listed address – though perhaps incorrect – of 11950 CF Hawn Freeway.

lrostochil’s two links are indeed of the King’s demolition, not the Linda Kay’s. The King was originally opened as the Cinderella, so the crown thing still applies (I think).

U.S. 175 Frontage Rd & Silverado Dr, Dallas, TX 75253

This address will map to the site of the drive. 11950 Second Avenue does not take you anywhere close to the drive-in.

Here’s what I remember about this particular drive-in:

Yes, it was located where 635 and 175 connect, in which you would immediately see it once you came off 635 onto 175 heading towards Seagoville. I grew up going to this place most of my life! In the 70’s, they used to play triple features and it ranged from horror/drive-in dreck to specialty themed packages (for example, they played a LOT of Elvis films soon after his death). I first saw The Texas Chainsaw Massacre there at 8 years old!! They started showing porn films around 1982-1983 and continued until they finally shut down for good (I was heartbroken to hear about it). The funny thing I remember about it is during the time they showed porn, if you were coming FROM Seagoville towards 635, you could EASILY see what the screen was showing from the highway, so you can imagine a bus full of band students on Friday night coming back from an away game (heading back to Seagoville) and passing the drive-in and EVERYONE on the bus breaking their necks to look back to see what porn was showing!! Ah, good times!

I really miss this place. It’s a piece of my youth, gone forever. Life just isn’t fair.

The theater did indeed show adult films and they were visible from Silverado St. and from several of the homes nearby. The old concession stand is still there, painted red, but nothing else remains.

The Linda Kay was located where Hwy 175 and, I think, I-635 intersect. It was open until the mid 1980’s, then it closed and was quickly torn down. I have one very bad photo from 1987. The screen was still up, but the parking area had been demolished.

Here it is:

http://flickr.com/photos/25726169@N03/2659454462/